Abstract: The report on the state of the drugs problem in Europe presents the EMCDDA’s yearly overview of the drug phenomenon. This is an essential reference book for policy-makers, specialists and practitioners in the drugs field or indeed anyone seeking the latest findings on drugs in Europe. Published every autumn, the report contains non-confidential data supported by an extensive range of figures.

Abstract: In the study “Women and Men in Swedish alcohol and Drug Treatment,” it is possible to compare alcohol consumption and problems among respondents in the general population with those in clients entering alcohol treatment. The differences between these groups have led researchers to talk about the “two worlds” of alcohol problems-in general and in clinical populations. The aim of this article is to study the relative strength of factors in predicting entering and the clinical population. The studied factors are demographics and marginalization; volume and frequency of drinking; alcohol dependence; social response to drinking (suggestions to cut down or seek treatment by informal actors, e.g. family and friends, and formal actors such as employer, the social services or judicial system); and treatment history. The client sample includes 1202 clients (71% men) interviewed face-to-face when entering inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities in Stockholm. In the general population survey, 3557 persons aged 18-75 years were interviewed. The two samples differ significantly. As expected, clients were older, more marginalized and reported more severe alcohol problems, and many reported previous treatment experiences and social responses. Logistic regression analyses show that previous treatment, unemployment/institutionalization and having an unstable living situation are the strongest predictors of who is in treatment, followed by age, alcohol dependence and frequency of drinking. Formal pressures to cut down or seek treatment are also important and males are more likely to be in treatment. The results support a notion of the treatment system as a place for handling marginalized people, beyond and beside their extent of drinking.

Abstract: The aim of this article is to identify which aspects of drug treatment are most closely associated with recovering drug users’ ability to obtain paid employment. Based on a cohort study of 1033 individuals, this article reports on a logistic regression analysis of the factors associated with the achievement of paid employment 33 months after the initiation of treatment for drug dependency. While the results show a close relationship between the cessation of illegal drug use and individuals’ ability to obtain paid employment, they also show that abstaining from drug use is unlikely to be successful on its own. The factor that showed the strongest independent association with the achievement of paid employment was the receipt of employment-related assistance. The study’s findings are, therefore, strongly supportive of the provision of employment support programmes as the most important mechanism for helping recovering drug users to obtain employment.

Abstract: The EMCDDA’s 10th scientific monograph, entitled Harm reduction: evidence, impacts and challenges provides a comprehensive overview of the harm reduction field. Part I of the monograph looks back at the emergence of harm reduction approaches and their diffusion, and explores the concept from different perspectives, including international organisations, academic researchers and drug users. Part II is dedicated to current evidence and impacts of harm reduction and illustrates how the concept has broadened to cover a wide range of behaviours and harms. Part III addresses the current challenges and innovations in the field. The core audience of the monograph comprises policymakers, healthcare professionals working with drug users, as well as the wider interested public.